Pals R Us

It must be so fun to be 10 years old when your mama has another baby born into the family. This 10 year old, Branch, has ALWAYS loved all things baby… real or pretend. She is a great helper and loves to play and smile and hold and rock and sway and snuggle this new little babe.

I have to believe that God will give her many babies of her own one day (far far off in the future) to love and raise to be as sweet as herself. Of course, they will make that one frustrated and angry face for her just like she does for me about twice each month!!

On the other side of the equation is the baby. He LOVES her, too. He is very generous with smiles and coos and giggles for her. Of course, that doesn't make it harder to love him!

This is the first time I have had the "guts" to let her (or any of the kids for that matter!) change diapers. She wanted to change Blossom's diapers when she was just a baby herself. But, she was easily appeased with throwing away the wet ones! When Bump was just a little stinker, she wanted to change his diaper, but was ok with doing the smiles and entertaining and picking out his outfits. This time around, she tells me that she is big enough. I figured she could try (after he had a big ol' poo one day and I had already cleaned that up) a wet diaper change on the bed, which is lower than the changing pad. She did splendidly! So, when she offers to change wet pants… and I don't have to hurry us along, I am happy to have a "little" helper!

How do they grow up so fast!?! Remember that one angry face she makes? Yea. I remember when she was 18 months old and making that same face at me! She makes some angry eyes that are almost, but not quite crossed and purses her lips really tightly. She's been making that same face… but it is now on this becoming all grown up girl! WHhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa...

It is true that the days are LONG and the years are so short. I am not sure how that happens, exactly. But, I try to enjoy all the moments. I told Branch a few days ago, "Babies. Aren't they sweet and wonderful?" She grinned and said, "YES! Who wouldn't love them!?" True. But, some people don't. She just cannot grasp there being someone out there who wouldn't just be enamored with a baby! Maybe one day she'll be overly exhausted with a fussy baby and she might have a tiny glimpse! 

My Branch has been concerned and asking me often if this little guy has a blog name yet. I haven't settled on anything yet. Do you have any ideas to call this sweet pumpkin? Here is a list of several ideas that I contemplated for Bump… And those of you who like Ohio for some reason… BUCKEYE is NOT a real option!!! :) 

Lots of love here. Tingly Toes. That is all. (If you are thinking, now, that you'll comment and say Buckeye is great… don't. Really. Pick something else. I don't have time to clean up my computer… that baby needs more kisses and love than he's had yet today!)

3 months today - Chubby Tub Time!!

What are you looking' at?!

I can sort of blow bubbles...

OH!!! You are serious about this bath thing. Good! I love bath time!

Yea, I look GREAT! All those rolls? They prove I am a good eater, my mom is a good milk maker and the other stuff in the mirror? Ignore it… Just check out MY CUTENESS!!! :) Gotta love … me!!

LOVE. 

Snow Day!!

Well, the weather isn't too bad for kids to go to school. But, the snow did cause some visibility difficulties and slick spots. We, however, don't worry about those things for our school!! But, the wind isn't whipping, the snow stopped falling, the snow is wet and packable… I declare it to be a snow day!! Go out and learn about how this wet snow is different than the dry stuff we have had dusted across our area often this winter. Go play and find out what the difference is. Go PLAY and LEARN!!! :) Snow days can be great learning days!!

I was learning from INSIDE the house. I learned that my kids are ingenious! No standard snowmen, here!

A Chair and Ottoman for Branch

Looks like a potential toilet, not sure what we have going on, there. The snow mound to the left of Bud is a snow sofa - turning into a bed. Pull-out sofa, anyone?? ;)

So excited to be out playing!

I don't remember where he was heading with that, but he was helping build all sorts of creations out there!

Everyone busy, having fun with the snow. It will likely be gone later this afternoon. The forecast says we'll reach 45 today.  They set bowls out on the patio table to catch snow for snow ice cream… it is mostly water, now! Maybe I've learned that this wet snow is great for packing and the drier snow would have been better for snow ice cream!!

Sometimes you just need a spot of tea!

It has been fun spending so much time snuggling and hugging on our new little babe. But at some point, the big treekids want some fun, too! OK - so, I think in looking over these pictures, I know why I don't do a tea very often!! This was a LOT of work. FUN. But, a lot of work. I spent all morning baking, nursing the baby, baking, and showering. Then, we ate some lunch, cooked a bit, finished it up and was ready for tea time around 3 PM right as Pops was arriving home from his latest trip. Branch and Blossom set the table (Can you say an iron would be nice for the table cloth!?!! But, then we wouldn't have gotten to tea time at all!)

The table was set with all sorts of treats and finery.

Wanna guess whose teacup and teabag rest was used by whom? Only Pops' was chosen for him. Everyone else chose their own teacup set out of the cupboard. I'll post who used which set later on. So, chime in!!

A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

F.

I felt a wee bit guilty about all the sweets, so I made some fancied up cucumber and carrot treats! The girls thought they looked lovely and sort of sushi-ish! Whatever - there were none left over! Mama scores!!

A family favorite - Scones and Lemon Curd!! Oh, my! Have you ever had any lemon curd? The recipe I use tastes like lemon meringue pie filling. DE-LISH! (I just put some more of the blue spot remover stuff in the dishwasher - sorry about that spottiness on the flatware! {Shaking head - wishing the spoon would have not been in the jar.} Next go 'round it should be better.)

Super Secret Yummy Brownie Recipe cut into circles to be able to sit in these little paper cupcake liners and on my springy cupcake tree? Yum. You can't eat just one. I love brownies. Branch and Bump helped to make them but Bump was in on the tasting before the eggs were added. He said, "This tastes like chocolate and SUGAR!! Yum. I love Brownies!!" FOUR. I love four - even more than brownies!

A few chocolate dipped strawberries. I figured they would be pretty and exciting… I NEVER expected them to actually be all that tasty! Strawberries in February? These little beauties were red all the way through. They had better flavor than many strawberries we eat in the summer!

AND tea. Many flavor options. Peppermint, Chamomile, Vanilla Chai, Apple Cinnamon, Lemon, Licorice Spice… yum TEA with cream and sugar! 

And this beautiful Polish teapot from my mom when my folks were living in Poland!! Isn't it so pretty?!?!

Dressed in their best… Cowboy Bump lost his tie along the wait, Blossom was being, uh, fancy, Branch did up some make-up for herself and her sister (there will be lessons soon…), and Bud dressed in a suit and forgot to shave, I see.

Since it has been a while, I took several close-ups of all my treekids…

Bump - 4

Trying to give me a wink!

Blossom - 8

Posing  - this is how a fancy person would use a tea cup!

Branch - 10

Pinky must be up and carry the plate so as not to drip or dribble on the floor as I pretend with nothing in this cup!!

And, then there was this handsome mysterious man...

Bud - 12

Puberty has brought the hair in nicely on his upper lip, no?

OK, OK… Some temporary tattoos were given to him for St. Valentine's Day!

Pinky up the girls tell him.

It feels weird to use manners and pose for the camera for more than one picture with the group.  But, it made mama so happy to get several pictures of this most elusive character!!

OH, my! Can't make mama happy for that long, now can we!?

We had lots and lots of fun talking and giggling. We enjoyed our treats, practiced some very nice manners and enjoyed the company of Pops. 

I hope to be blogging more regularly again soon. I read a great little post from a gal who has many children… it resonated so well for me! She talked about how sometimes it is easy to fit all of the social media into life and other times you just have to focus on life and put social media on the back burner until you are back on track. I relate well to that. I need to have a name for that so I can post a picture or something when life gets too busy and then get back at it when I can. I love having a blog and posting things here to remember later. I love reading comments and making "cyber friends." But, there are times I just cannot keep up with everything and social media is what has to go sometimes.